Feed and opening apparatus, arranged in a stationary manner in a supporting member, of an open-end spinning unit

ABSTRACT

Every spinning point of an open-end spinning unit is provided with a feed and opening apparatus which is fixedly connected with the spinning unit, so that a throughgoing shaft equipped with feed rollers can be employed, especially for the feed facilities. Each of these components is protected by means of a cover, which can be swivelled away and to which the insert, which extends into the spinning rotor, is attached, said insert forming a portion of a fiber feed channel and a fiber removal channel. Each cover is retained in the closed position through locking means which can be adjusted from the outside in such a manner that they can be set over the immersion depth of the insert in the spinning rotor.

United States Patent 1191 Stahlecker et al.

[451 Jan. 21, 1975 Filed: Dec. 10, 1973 Appl. No.: 423,108

Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 14, 1972 Germany 2261041 US. Cl.57/5889 D0lh 1/12 Field of Search References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,543,500 12/1970 Bancroft et al 57/58.89 3,648,450 3/1972 Prochazka etal. 57/5895 X 3,667,205 6/1972 Brazda et al 5758.89 3,668,854 6/1972Chatelier 57/58.89

Primary ExaminerDonald E. Watkins Attorney, Agent, or FirmCraig &Antonelli [57] ABSTRACT Every spinning point of an open-end spinningunit is provided with a feed and opening apparatus which is fixedlyconnected with the spinning unit, so that a throughgoing shaft equippedwith feed rollers can be employed, especially for the feed facilities.Each of these components is protected by means of a cover, which can beswivelled away and to which the insert, which extends into the spinningrotor, is attached, said insert forming a portion of a fiber feedchannel and a fiber removal channel. Each cover is retained in theclosed position through locking means which can be adjusted from theoutside in such a manner that they can be set over the immersion depthof the insert in the spinning rotor.

13 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTEB JAN 21 I975 nnnnxq 2 3 1 FEED ANDOPENING APPARATUS, ARRANGED IN A STATIONARY MANNER IN A SUPPORTINGMEMBER, OF AN OPEN-END SPINNING UNIT The present invention relates to afeed and opening apparatus, arranged in a stationary manner in a supporting member, for a spinning point of an open-end spinning unit, beingenclosed with a cover which can be moved away and which also covers thespinning rotor and supports an insert containing that area of a fibersupply channel located in front of said spinning rotor and a fiberremoval channel.

In open-end spinning units, for reasons of spinning technology it isimportant for the clearance between the head of the insert and the baseof the spinning rotor to maintain a given dimension, which should beuniform for all other spinning points. Satisfaction of this requirementof spinning technology is made difficult through unavoidablemanufacturing tolerances, which must be expected, especially in massproduction. In order to be able to set this clearance, known modelsprovide an adjustable stop or an adjusting screw, which can only be setwith the unit open. This necessitates repeated opening and closing ofthe unit in order to find a precise setting. It is first necessary toopen the cover and then to set the stop. Then, after the unit has beenclosed it is necessary, generally using a special gauge, to measurewhether the desired clearance has been set. This type of setting isgenerally successful the first time only in very rare cases. Themechanic must therefore generally slowly arrive at the correct settingby trial and error. It is correspondingly difficult if the spinning unitas a whole is to be reset to another spinning condition, whereby auniform clearance must be set between the rotor-base and the head of theinsert at all spinning points.

The object of the invention is to design a feed and opening apparatus ofthe type indicated at the outset in such a manner that the clearancebetween the rotor base and the head of the insert can be set quickly andeasily. According to the invention, the cover is retained by means oflocking means which can be adjusted from the outside with the cover inthe closed position. This additionally utilizes the locking means, whichmust practically always be provided, while simultaneously providing thepossibility of performing precise setting in one single step.

In this connection, it is especially advantageous for the housing of thespinning rotor and the outside of the insert to be provided with marksor stops associated to the rotor base and/or the head of the insert. Itis readily possible to associate the rotor base and the head of theinsert to the marks or stops precisely with a given dimension duringassembly and/or fabrication, thereby eliminating manufacturingtolerances here. It is then very simple to set the clearance between therotor base and the head of the insert precisely by setting the distancebetween the marks or the stops and, if necessary, subsequently alteringthem to any desired dimension.

In actual practice, it is advantageous for the insert to be adjustablyattached to the cover. This provides the advantage that the entireadjusting path need not be provided exclusively over the locking means.

In order to prevent fibers from being caught in the transition betweenthe supporting member and the insert with this existing adjustingpossibility, it is advantageous if there is a positive cross sectiontransition between the stationary portion of the fiber supply channeland that portion belonging to the insert. To prevent infiltrated airfrom penetrating, it is also favorable if a preferably elastic seal isarranged between the two portions of the fiber supply channel.

In a further development of the invention, the locking means areattached between the supporting member and the cover. In the knownmodels, the locking means are generally attached at the upper end. ofthe rotor housing and the cover, which frequently proves to be adisadvantage during cleaning or similar work, as working space is takenaway.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the locking means areformed by a lever which is mounted in the cover and can be swivelledfrom the outside and which is further vertically adjustable and whosehead engages behind a shoulder in the supporting member. From theconstruction standpoint, it is especially simple for a swivel axleattached to the cover to be provided with a tapped lateral hole, intowhich the swivel lever is screwed. In order to be able to swivel theswivel lever without the swivel lever extending further out of the coverduring the swivel motion, a further embodiment of the invention providesfor insertion of the free end of the swivel lever, which has a slot orsimilar means for the application of a tool, in a slide which can beslid parallel to the outer wall of the cover and which has a throughhole leading to the free end of the swivel lever.

The above discussed and other objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the followingdescription of an embodiment thereof, when taken in connection with theaccompanying Drawing which shows a side view with partial cross sectionof a feed and opening apparatus of a spinning point of an open-endspinning unit in accor' dance with the invention.

Referring now to the Drawing, the rotor shaft 3 of a spinning rotor 1,which rotates in a housing 2 preferably having an underpressure, issupported in a channel 4 by means of two direct-acting bearings 5. Thedirectacting bearings 5 are mounted in damping discs 6, which in turnare attached to channel 4 by means of fixing rings. The rotor shaft 3 isdriven by means of a tangential belt 7 via a ball-shaped drive wharve 8.

The open, individual fibers are supplied to the spinning rotor l with aflow of air. For this purpose, a stationary supporting member 9 isprovided for each spinning point, said supporting member 9 having a feedhopper 10, a trough lever 12 operating conjointly with a supply roller11, and an opening roller 13. A fiber supply channel 14 leads to thespinning rotor from opening roller 13. The first portion of the fibersupply channel is an integral part of supporting member 9, which isfollowed by an insert 15, whose head extends into spinning rotor I-.Said insert 15, which contains a fiber removal channel 20 which extendsfirst axially to the spinning rotor and then upwardly, is attached bymeans of a swivel axle 16 to a cover 17', which is fabricated of sheetmetal and which covers the entire feed and opening apparatus.

Cover 17 is swivel mounted on an axle 18.0f supporting member 9. Cover17 is detachably mounted to said swivel axle 18. It is tensioned in theopening direction in an unillustrated manner, e.g., by means of a springwound around axle 18, so that it swivels down automatically if itslocking means 19 are opened.

In actual practice, it is important for certain spinning conditions tobe uniform for each spinning point and set for a given value. Theseinclude, especially, the clearance between the base of spinning rotor 1and the head of insert 15, located directly opposite thereto. Howeversince, as a result of manufacturing tolerances during fabrication, thisclearance is not precisely uniform, it must be possible to adjust itduring assembly. In addition, it should also be possible to subsequentlyalter the spinning condition resulting herefrom. The first possibilityfor influencing this clearance is by shifting insert 15 relative tospinning rotor 1. In the illustrated embodiment, this is achieved inthat swivel axle 16, with which insert 15 is attached to cover 17, isdesigned as an eccentric axle. Rotation of the axle shifts insert 15toward the base of the rotor or away from it. Insert 15 is in asupporting relationship with supporting member 9, and is pressedthereagainst by means of a spring 21. Eccentric axle 16 can be rotatedwith cover 17 closed, permitting adjustment in one step, withoutrepeated opening of the cover, if in accordance with the illustratedembodiment, marks 22 and 23, which can be set for a given clearance, areaffixed to housing 2 and insert 15. In actual practice, adjustment withthe aid of the eccentric axle is relatively coarse, while fineadjustment is made by means of locking means 19, which are adjustablefrom the outside.

Adjusting means 19 are arranged between supporting member 9 and cover17, so that the area in which insert 15 is located can be kept free ofthe locking means. This area is therefore relatively well accessible fora cleaning brush or similar item if cover 17 is opened even slightly.Locking means 19 consist of a swivel lever 24, which is swivel mountedin cover 17 around a swivel axle 25. The tapered or mushroom-shaped head26 of swivel lever 24 extends behind the stop 27 provided with a recess.Swivel lever 24 is designed as a threaded bolt and screwed into a tappedlateral hole in swivel axle 25. The free end of swivel lever 24, whichhas a slot 29 for a screwdriver, is inserted in a through hole in aslide 30, which is slidably attached to cover 17 parallel to the outsidewall. Slide 30 is retained in the illustrated closed position by meansof a tension spring 31. By rotating swivel lever 24 about itslongitudinal axis, it is possible to shift locking means 19, therebyaltering the position of cover 17 relative to supporting member 9,whereby the clearance between the head of the insert and the base of thespinning rotor is simultaneously altered. This permits very sensitiveadjustment with the cover closed, whereby marks 22 and 23 are againemployed for exact determination of the clearance.

In a relatively simple manner, with the aid of a gauge it is possible tomaintain a given clearance of the rotor base to its mark 22 and of theinsert head to its mark 23, or to affix the marks in such a manner as toeliminate manufacturing tolerances here.

In order to permit the adjusting path of insert 15 relative tosupporting member 9 without difficulty in .the area of the fiber supplychannel, a positive cross section transition is provided between the twoareas of the fiber supply channel, i.e., the initial cross section ofthat portion of fiber channel 14 in insert 15 which is directly adjacentto supporting member 9 is larger than the cross section of fiber supplychannel 14 in supporting member 9. In addition, a preferably elasticseal 32 is arranged between these two portions of. fiber supply channel14.

The entire feed and opening apparatus can also be aligned in the planewhich is radial to rotor shaft 3, as supporting member 9 is mounted to asurface which is radial to rotor shaft 3. Supply roller 11 and openingroller 13, including their drives, are designed in such a manner thatminor vertical changes do not influence their function. The supplyroller is designed as a throughgoing, easily interchangeable supplycylinder, which is mounted in separate supports on the machine frame.

Supporting member 9 further mounts a control magnet 33 and, if desired,an unillustrated load pneumatic system, which are controlled by anunillustrated thread monitor, so that trough lever 12 moves away fromsupply roller 11 in the event of a thread break or similar malfunction.In addition, supporting member 9 also contains a cleaning chamber 34,which can be connected with the circumference of opening roller 13 in anunillustrated manner by means ofa cleaning flap 35.

In actual practice, it can be advantageous to mount swivel axle 25eccentrically, which is indicated in the drawing. Detachable securingmeans would also be necessary for the position of swivel axle 25,whereby it is practical for said means to be able to be operated fromthe outside with cover 17 closed. This adjusting possibility might, initself, be sufficient .for precise set ting. Should the clearancebetween the covers 17 of neighboring spinning points be too small foraccess to the securing means and the adjusting means of swivel axle 25,good accessibility is then readily possible by opening the covers of theneighboring spinning points.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in the light of the above teachings. It should therefore beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Having thus fully disclosed our invention, what we claim is:

l. A spinning unit with means for feeding and opening fibers, mounted ina supporting member and each associated to one spinning point of anopen-end spinning unit and being covered with movably arranged coveringmeans extending to the area of a spinning rotor of the associatedspinning unit and also covering said rotor and mounting an insertcontaining a portion of a fiber supply channel leading to said spinningrotor and at least one portion of the fiber removal channel leading awayfrom said spinning rotor, whereby said covering means are retained inthe closed position with locking means which are adjustable from theoutside in the closed position.

2. The spinning unit according to claim 1, in which a housing containingsaid spinning rotor and the outside of said insert have marksdesignating as least one of the base of said spinning rotor and the headof said insert.

3. The spinning unit according to claim 1, in which a housing containingsaid spinning rotor and the outside of said insert have stopsdesignating at least one of the base of said spinning rotor and the headof said in-- sert.

4. The spinning unit according to claim 1, in which said insert isadjustably attached to said covering means.

5. The spinning unit according to claim 1, in which that portion of thefiber supply channel contained in said insert has a cross section whichis greater than the mouth of that portion of the fiber supply channellocated therebefore.

6. The spinning unit according to claim 1, in which sealing means arearranged between the two portions of the fiber supply channel.

7. The spinning unit according to claim 1, in which said locking meansare attached to the supporting member and the covering means.

8. The spinning unit according to claim 7, in which said locking meansare formed by a lever which is mounted in said covering means and can beswivelled from outside said covering means and whose axial direction isadjustable and which engages behind a shoulder of the supporting memberwith a head.

9. The spinning unit according to claim 7, in which a swivel axle isattached to said covering means, said swivel axle having a tappedlateral hole into which the swivel lever is screwed.

10. The spinning unit according to claim 9, in which the free end of thelever, extending to the outside, has means for the application of atool.

11. The spinning unit according to claim 9, in which the free end of thelever, pointing to the outside, can be inserted in a slide, which slidesparallel to the outer wall of said covering means and which has a hole,which is open to the outside, leading to the free end of the lever.

12. The spinning unit according to claim 1, in which a housingcontaining said spinning rotor and the outside of said insert have marksdesignating the base of the spinning rotor and the head of said insert.

13. The spinning unit according to claim 1, in which a housingcontaining said spinning rotor and the outside of said insert have stopsdesignating the base of said spinning rotor and the head of said insert.

1. A spinning unit with means for feeding and opening fibers, mounted ina supporting member and each associated to one spinning point of anopen-end spinning unit and being covered with movably arranged coveringmeans extending to the area of a spinning rotor of the associatedspinning unit and also covering said rotor and mounting an insertcontaining a portion of a fiber supply channel leading to said spinningrotor and at least one portion of the fiber removal channel leading awayfrom said spinning rotor, whereby said covering means are retained inthe closed position with locking means which are adjustable from theoutside in the closed position.
 2. The spinning unit according to claim1, in which a housing containing said spinning rotor and the outside ofsaid insert have marks designating as least one of the base of saidspinning rotor and the head of said insert.
 3. The spinning unitaccording to claim 1, in which a housing containing said spinning rotorand the outside of said insert have stops designating at least one ofthe base of said spinning rotor and the head of said insert.
 4. Thespinning unit according to claim 1, in which said insert is adjustablyattached to said covering means.
 5. The spinning unit according to claim1, in which that portion of the fiber supply channel contained in saidinsert has a cross section which is greater than the mouth of thatportion of the fiber supply channel located therebefore.
 6. The spinningunit according to claim 1, in which sealing means are arranged betweenthe two portions of the fiber supply channel.
 7. The spinning unitaccording to claim 1, in which said locking means are attached to thesupporting member and the covering means.
 8. The spinning unit accordingto claim 7, in which said locking means are formed by a lever which ismounted in said covering means and can be swivelled from outside saidcovering means and whose axial direction is adjustable and which engagesbehind a shoulder of the supporting member with a head.
 9. The spinningunit according to claim 7, in which a swivel axle is attached to saidcovering means, said swivel axle having a tapped lateral hole into whichthe swivel lever is screwed.
 10. The spinning unit according to claim 9,in which the free end of the lever, extending to the outside, has meansfor the application of a tool.
 11. The spinning unit according to claim9, in which the free end of the lever, pointing to the outside, can beinserted in a slide, which slides parallel to the outer wall of saidcovering means and which has a hole, which is open to the outside,leading to the free end of the lever.
 12. The spinning unit according toclaim 1, in which a housing containing said spinning rotor and theoutside of said insert have marks designating the base of the spinningrotor and the head of said insert.
 13. The spinning unit according toclaim 1, in which a housing containing said spinning rotor and theoutside of said insert have stops designating the base of said spinningrotor and the head of said insert.